West Bengal’s ongoing face-off between the state government and the Governor intensified after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay asserted that the Governor has no constitutional authority to summon officials for discussions on pending Bills. The remark follows Governor C V Ananda Bose’s claim that he had called for meetings with officials from different departments before giving assent to several legislative proposals awaiting his approval. The confrontation has taken a legal and political dimension, especially after the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on a similar matter in Tamil Nadu.
Governor overstepping constitutional limits, says minister
Speaking to the media, Chattopadhyay referred to the Constitution to back his argument. “The Constitution clearly says that a Governor cannot indefinitely hold back Bills. If there are legal issues, he may write to the state government. But there is no provision for summoning officers or holding discussions,” he said, adding that he has studied the Constitution multiple times to understand this matter thoroughly. His remarks directly counter Governor Bose’s stance and indicate a growing rift between the constitutional head of the state and the elected government.
SC verdict reignites state’s legislative concerns
The issue gained more traction after the Supreme Court earlier this week gave a landmark ruling in favour of the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government. The court approved 10 Bills that had been held back by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and laid down specific timelines for governors to act on Bills passed by state legislatures. Reacting to the judgment, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called it a victory for federalism and all Indian states. Drawing parallels, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee pointed out that 23 Bills passed by the Bengal Assembly since 2016 still await the Governor’s assent, and he hoped the West Bengal Governor would follow the Supreme Court’s direction.
